Welcome to e-Prairie Arts! This electronic newsletter supplements our printed newsletter, Prairie Arts, which is published 3 times per year. e-Prairie Arts will be distributed during the months of February, March, April, June, July, August, October, November and December. If you know of anyone else who would like to receive e-Prairie Arts, please e-mail comserv@nd.gov. Or if you wish to unsubscribe, send an e-mail to comserv@nd.gov as well.

**How has the North Dakota Council on the Arts benefited you and/or your community? We would love to know! Send your comments to amschmid@nd.gov.**

STATEWIDE NEWS

North DakotaState Tree Lighting Ceremony set for Monday, December 3rd
NDCA, along with the Governor’s Office and Facility Management, invites the general public to the Lighting Ceremony for the 2012 North Dakota State Christmas Tree. The ceremony will be conducted by Governor Jack Dalrymple and First Lady Betsy Dalrymple on Monday, December 3 at 5:00 p.m. in the Memorial Hall of the Capitol Building in Bismarck. Live entertainment will be provided. The ceremony is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the ceremony. For more, visit www.nd.gov/arts/pressreleases/releases/XmasLightingCeremonyDateSetPR12.doc.

Reminder ~ North Dakota Governor’s Awards for the Arts Call for Nominations Deadline is January 14th!
Call for Nomination materials must be postmarked by January 14, 2013! Nomination form is available at www.nd.gov/arts/whatsnew/images-pdfs/GovAwardsCallforNominations-2012.pdf. The North Dakota Governor’s Awards for the Arts program is presented by the Governor’s Office and NDCA to recognize individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the arts in the state. Nominations are reviewed by the NDCA, who then submits final candidates to the Governor for selection of the award winners. The awards will be presented at a special public event in Bismarck, March 27, 2013.

NDCA Invites High School Students in North Dakota to Participate in Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation present Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, in partnership with the North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA). Schools in North Dakota are invited to participate in the statewide competition. High schools that wish to be part of the official Poetry Out Loud program must register by January 11, 2013. A registration form is available online at www.nd.gov/arts/arts_ed/images-pdfs/2013poetryoutloudregistrationform.pdf. Questions? Contact Rebecca Engelman: 701-328-7593 or rengelman@nd.gov or visit http://ndpol.weebly.com.

Very Limitied Quantities Remaining of NDCAs' Sixth Annual Special Edition Ornaments!
The NDCA announces their sixth annual Special Edition Ornament which is now available for purchase. Frank Koch of Bismarck, was commissioned by NDCA to create a one-of-a-kind, hand-carved wood ornament. Very limited quantities are available for $25.00 plus tax (includes gift box, shipping additional). $12 from each ornament can be used as a tax-deductible donation to the North Dakota Cultural Endowment Fund. For more information, please visit www.nd.gov/arts/whatsnew/12Special-Edition-Ornament.html. If you would like to purchase a Special Edition Ornament, please call (701) 328-7590.

Institutional Support Grant Available Online
The deadline date for the Institutional Support grant is March 15, 2013. All applicants must submit a letter stating their intent to apply no later than January 15. Letters must be printed on either the applicant's organizations letterhead or e-mailed directly to the NDCA (jwebb@nd.gov). The staff review deadline is February 15, 2013. To access NDCA’s online grant system, or to view grant availability, please visit: http://northdakota.cgweb.org.

Individual Artist Fellowship Applications Available Online for Literary and Musical Art
The Individual Fellowship Program was established to recognize practicing artists residing in North Dakota with a monetary fellowship award. This program is designed to support professional artists with outstanding talent and ability to improve their artistic skills and enhance their career opportunities. Two fellowships of $2,500 are awarded annually with different disciplines in each fiscal year. The North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) reserves the right to not award either fellowship, based on the panel review. 2013 Fellowships are available for Literary and Musical Art. The final grant submission deadline is February 15, 2013. Early submission is strongly encouraged for all programs. You can access NDCA’s online grant system at http://northdakota.cgweb.org. As a reminder, the Professional Development grant applications are accepted throughout the year, but must be submitted no later than four (4) weeks prior to the start of the event. Early submission of applications is recommended since grant funds are limited and applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information or questions, please contact NDCA at 701-328-7590; or visit our web site at: www.nd.gov/arts/grants/grant.html.

Don't Miss Out on All the North Dakota Art and Cultural Events Happening Now!
Be sure to check out CulturePulse.org, North Dakota's statewide arts calendar, to learn more about all of the exciting arts and cultural activities happening throughout the state, and to view North Dakota artist profiles! CulturePulse.org also has a Facebook fan page ~ stay on top of all of the latest arts and cultural information at www.facebook.com/culturepulse.

Save the Dates ~ March 26-27, 2013!
The Statewide Arts Conference, and Accessibility Pre-conference will take place in Bismarck March 26-27, 2013, with the Governor’s Awards for the Arts program (presented by the Governor’s Office and the North Dakota Council on the Arts) to take place the evening of March 27. More information coming soon, but make sure to mark your calendars and plan to attend!

Let NDCA Help You with Your Gift-Giving Needs this Holiday Season!
Did you know that NDCA has unique CDs, collectables, and wonderful picturesque books for sale? Thinking of giving an impressive, unique gift for graduations, weddings, birthdays, or holidays? Visit www.nd.gov/arts then call us with your order at (701) 328-7590; or email comserv@nd.gov.

NDCA Offers Touring Exhibit Opportunity
NDCA’s book, Sundog and Sunflowers: Folklore and Folk Art of the Northern Great Plains recently received national recognition as a Notable Document from the American Library Association, and was awarded first place in the ND Library Association’s 2011 Notable Document Awards. The exhibit will be offered for tour to cultural organizations, schools, senior centers, and art galleries throughout the state. For more information visit www.nd.gov/arts/whatsnew/SundogsandSunflowers.html or view the YouTube video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0KKbPe1tDw. Contact Troyd Geist at tgeist@nd.gov or by calling (701) 866-0959 to learn more.

NATIONAL NEWS

North Dakota-born Artist Receives National Arts Award
Every October, Americans for the Arts leads the country as they celebrate our cultural riches through National Arts and Humanities Month. The Americans for the Arts National Arts Awards serves as the focal point for these nationwide celebrations. The National Arts Awards represents a unique opportunity for 500 of the world's top artists and philanthropic and corporate leaders to come together annually to recognize and celebrate the achievements of individuals and corporations who have exhibited outstanding leadership in the visual and performing arts, arts education, and philanthropy. The six honorees were: Eli and Edythe Broad Award for Philanthropy in the Arts—Microsoft Co-Founder Paul G. Allen; Corporate Citizenship in the Arts Award—AXA Art Insurance Corporation; Outstanding Contributions to the Arts Award—Tony Award®-winning actor Brian Stokes Mitchell; Bell Family Foundation Young Artist Award—multiplatinum recording artist Josh Groban; Arts Education Award—Co-Founder of the National YoungArts Foundation Lin Arison; and the Isabella and Theodor Dalenson Lifetime Achievement Award—acclaimed painter James Rosenquist. James Rosenquist, born in 1933 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, is considered one of the most important American artists of our time. To learn more, visit www.americansforthearts.org/events/2012/naa/001.asp.

Statement from National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman
On November 20, Rocco Landesman confirmed his plans to step down as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts at the end of the calendar year: "My intention has always been to serve one term, and we have been able to accomplish more than I had ever thought possible: sparking a national movement around creative placemaking, forging significant relationships with other federal agencies, creating an unprecedented healing arts partnership with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and increasing both the scope and impact of our research office. "We have continued to support and strengthen the entire spectrum of arts in this country, and we have been able to expand the national conversation through convenings, traditional media, and new technology. I am proud and honored to have served alongside such an amazing group of dedicated public servants. "The time has come for me to become a cliché: I turned 65, am going to retire, and cannot wait to spend more time in Miami Beach." NEA Senior Deputy Chairman Joan Shigekawa will serve as the acting head of the agency until a permanent successor is confirmed.

New Our Town Funding Guidelines Available
The Arts Endowment has posted the 2013 Our Town application guidelines at http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/OurTown/index.html. Our Town invests in creative and innovative projects in which communities, together with their arts and design organizations and artists, seek to improve their quality of life, encourage greater creative activity, and foster stronger community identity and a sense of place, and revitalize economic development. Grants range from $25,000 to $200,000. The application deadline is January 14, 2013.

New Big Read Grants and Reading Selections Available
The Big Read is accepting applications from non-profit organizations to develop community-wide reading programs between September 2013 and June 2014. The Big Read is a national program designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. Approximately 75 organizations from across the country will be selected. Join them for a webinar hosted by the National Endowment for the Arts on November 13 @ 4:30pm. Visit www.NEABigRead.org/application_process.php for more information. Application deadline: February 5, 2013. Questions? Call Arts Midwest at (12) 238-8010 or email TheBigRead@artsmidwest.org.

Open Call Public Art Display in Zurich
Project 17ZWEI welcomes professional artists and artist groups to submit a proposal for a two dimensional artwork which will be publicly displayed in a highly frequented underpass in Zurich’s (Switzerland) new business district. Subject Area: When they think about differences and differentiations – be they cultural, conceptual, formal or gender, just to mention a few – they also have to take into consideration their borders, limits and boundaries as well as overlapping moments. Following these distinguishing borders or tangential lines of divergence and variation can trigger visionary thoughts and critical questions and also facilitate the exploration of new fields. They are interested in expanding these fields of meanings and concepts. They are looking for a creative communication between your position, idea or vision of the outside world, the imaginary space and its visual representation in urban Switzerland. The public area Hardbrücke should be a window that offers connections of any and all sorts. Please note that the artwork will be printed on a 16 x 2.15 meter truck tarp. Deadline is December 16, 2012. To learn more, visit http://17zwei.ch.

River Walk Artists Gallery First Annual International Juried Exhibition
The River Walk Artists Gallery in East Grand Forks, MN, seeks to increase awareness and appreciation of the visual arts throughout the Red River Valley Region by inviting international and national artists to submit to the First Annual International Juried Exhibition. We encourage applications from students, faculty and the creative public. Show us your unique style and share it with the public in our beautiful gallery! The deadline for the First Annual International Juried Exhibition is December 21, 2012. For more information about the River Walk Artists Gallery & Retail Shop please visit our website at http://riverwalkartists.weebly.com. Feel free to contact us with any questions at 218-399-0162. Download the prospectus at: http://riverwalkartists.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/9/6/13967249/2012_rwa_juried_exhibit_entry_form.pdf.

2013 VSA International Young Soloists Competition
The VSA & Accessibility Department at the Kennedy Center proudly opens the 2013 VSA International Young Soloists Competition. The Kennedy Center invites entries from musicians ages 14 to 25, with a disability, for the 2013 International Young Soloists Competition. The competition is open to: international and domestic applicants; individuals and ensembles of two to five members; and musicians of all genres. Since 1984, the VSA International Young Soloists Program has identified talented musicians who have a disability. The VSA International Young Soloists Competition annually selects up to four outstanding musicians from the United States and the international arena, and supports and encourages them in their pursuit of a career. These emerging musicians receive $2,500, professional development opportunities, and a performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Deadline: January 15, 2013. Guidelines, application, and more information available at: www.kennedy-center.org/IYS.

ACC, Artists Celebrating Christ
A unique inter-denominational event to exhibit all forms of Christian art in a supportive atmosphere. All art forms accepted. Registrations due February 15, 2013. For more information contact Shannon Wirrenga at (701) 400-2815; visit www.accartshow.com; or e-mail info@accartshow.com.

Contribution of Arts and Culture to U.S. Economy to be Measured
Through a partnership spearheaded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis (www.bea.gov) will develop an Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA) to identify and calculate the economic contribution of arts and culture to gross domestic product (GDP). GDP measures the final dollar value of all goods and services produced in the United States. Once implemented, the ACPSA should provide more detailed and precise measurements on the economic contribution of arts activities, both commercial and not-for-profit, to GDP. The partnership was announced during the National Council on the Arts public session on October 26 (http://arts.gov/news/news12/BEA.html).

OTHER RESOURCES

Sign Up for Your Free Duns & Bradstreet Number
Art organizations are encouraged to sign up for a free Duns & Bradstreet number, which allows your organization to be counted in national arts data. It takes 30 days to get a new DUNS number, apply at http://www.dnb.com.

"Tools for Results" Tool-Kit - a Resource for Non-profit Arts and Cultural Organizations
The Texas Commission on the Arts "Tools for Results" Tool-kit was developed as a resource for non-profit arts and cultural organizations in Texas and beyond. The Tool-kit is a collaborative project made possible with the help of many organizations that generously agreed to share their resources. The Tool-kit covers six topic areas: Fundraising & Development, Programs & Exhibitions, Cultural Tourism, Marketing, Advocacy, and Nonprofit Basics. Each section covers the basics, relevant concepts, best practices, things to consider, ideas for implementing change, common mistakes, ways to get started, do’s and don’ts, and how-to’s on a variety of topics. The “tools” are the sample forms, letters, documents, checklists, templates, and other resources. The intention is for nonprofits to take these “tools” and adapt them for their own purposes.

Web Sites with Resources
Following are some web sites that have resources that may be of service to educators, individual artists, and arts organizations including funding and other opportunities, publications, arts events, etc:

Forms and documents on this site are available in the Adobe PDF format. They can be downloaded, viewed, filled out, and printed through Adobe's free Acrobat Reader. Click on the "Get Acrobat Reader" icon to download a complimentary copy.

North Dakota Council on the Arts

It is our mission to promote, preserve and perpetuate the arts in North Dakota.